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Abstract
Previous research stresses that system justifying belief can weaken corruption perception, by this possibly fostering unjust behaviors. However, general results of the effect of general system justification on corruption are ambiguous, indicating also a lessening impact. We conducted a line of studies trying to elucidate these circumstances by testing the effect of general system justification on corruption perception and intention. In addition, we explored institutional trust as a possible mediator in this process. For this purpose, we conducted three studies. The first two studies examined the association between general system justification and corruption. In Study 1, a correlational design was run using questionnaires to assess the relation between general system justification and corruption perception as well as corruption intention. In Study 2, an experimental design was conducted manipulating general system justification via exposure to high or low system threat condition, then measuring its effect on corruption perception and corrupt intention. In Study 3, two sub-studies using correlational and experimental designs were run to explore the mediating role of institutional trust, respectively. Results replicated former studies showing that general system justification is negatively associated with corruption perception. However, they also showed a negative correlation with corrupt intention. Furthermore, they showed that institutional trust mediated the relation between general system justification and corruption. We suggest to consider these findings to further elucidate the psychological basis underlying different effects of general system justification on human behaviors.
Highlights
In recent years, an increasing number of studies have explored the causes and consequences of corruption
General system justification negatively predicted corruption perception [β = −0.174, t(443) = −3.701, p < 0.001] and corrupt intention [β = −0.167, t(443) = −3.573, p < 0.001]. These analyses indicated that participants with higher general system justification perceived less corruption and manifested lower corrupt intention
Previous research often stresses that conservative ideologies can weaken corruption perception, by this possibly fostering corruption
Summary
An increasing number of studies have explored the causes and consequences of corruption. Previous research has indicated that some conservative ideologies, such as social dominance orientation, right-wing authoritarianism, and hierarchical ideology, can bolster the propensity for corruption. General System Justification and Corruption (Bac, 1996; Rosenblatt, 2012; Tan et al, 2016b). It remains unknown whether the motivation to maintain the status quo of society affects corruption. Inspired by system justification theory (Jost and Banaji, 1994; Jost and van der Toorn, 2012) and research on institutional trust, we postulate that general system justification can lessen rather than reinforce corruption, and that institutional trust mediates the relation. The aim of the present study is to test these assumptions
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